It’s not a coincidence

Have you ever been thinking about someone and then the very next day you bump into them or someone mentions them in conversation?  It’s so weird when that happens and many times we will say, “What a coincidence!”  But I think there are a lot fewer coincidences than we may imagine.  I could easily be accused of over-spiritualizing things but I really truly believe that those coincidences are God speaking. 

Sometimes when I tell someone of how God “spoke” to me on a particular subject their response will be, “I wish he would speak to me like that.”  It would be fun to think that I am special (well, I am - but so are you!!) and the truth is God speaks to every one of us. Many times it is a matter of tuning in. 

Did you ever notice that when you get a new car all of the sudden you see that make and model and even color car everywhere.  I never ever noticed white Grand Ams on the road until I got one.

Once you condition yourself to recognize the coincidences in your life as the voice of God you will hear Him more and more. 

I'll tell you why this is on my mind.  I've had a few too many "coincidences" lately to write them off.  In January FTGI is rolling out a mentorship program called SHINE.  We will have ShineGIRL for young girls and ShineWomen for adults.  Anyway, everytime we start a new venture or program I am always praying to make sure that we are on the right road.  So the other day I was standing on line at the pharmacy at Publix and there was a little pamphlet (I don’t even know what it was for) and it said right across the top in bold letters --- SHINE!  It made me smile to myself.  Someone else might think I was reaching, but I took it as a little nod from heaven.

Then a few days later I was on a plane flipping through a magazine and there was a full page ad for Heidi Klum’s new fragrance ---SHINE!

Last Wednesday my brother and I went to see a Broadway play while I was in New York. When we entered the theater I looked over at the merchandise and there was a shirt with big letters in glitter ---SHINE!  The second song of the play was SHINE and pretty much the overall message was that “You can shine!”

Coincidence, I don’t think so. 

Here’s the thing.  Psalm 139 says (and I’m paraphrasing here) that He knows when we sleep and when we rise, He knows our thoughts, He knows our comings in and our goings out, we cannot get away from His prescence…no matter where we go, what we do, who we hang out with…He is right there. 

And if we believe that He directs our steps then why is it hard to believe that He would plant things along our path to communicate with us?  If you get the chance today read Psalm 139 and realize how completely tuned into you He is! It's like putting a warm cozy blanket of His love around you to wear as you go about your day. (I guess it would be awkward to wear a blanket all day...unless you are just hanging out on the couch all day...which sounds like fun..but you get what I'm saying...)

Look for His subtle messages!  I would love to hear about “coincidences” that you have had! Post a comment!

Have a great day and stay sane during this busy holiday season...on my way out to brave the mall! Pray for me ;)

The land of the living.

On Saturday my daughter, my niece and I went to pick out a Christmas tree. Just before we went into the outdoor tent I got a phone call from mom's sister. She told me that my mom was ok but she had slipped when they were moving her from her chair to her bed and had hit her head as she fell to the ground. In case you are reading this and you don't know this already, my mom suffered a traumatic brain injury 20 years ago in a car accident. She lives in a nursing home and is unable to move herself except for the use of her left arm. She is also unable to eat and although she is trying hard and is managing a few words here and there she can't speak either. To add insult to injury the gash was right in the same area as the shunt that was placed in her head right after the accident.  So they had to call in a surgeon to take a look at the damage the fall may have caused. He was on his way to the hospital on a Saturday night to do emergency surgery. 

Not exactly what I had planned for the evening. There was nothing I could do but wait for the updates so the girls and I went about picking out a tree and I tried my best to engage in the festivities although I was definitely preoccupied.

I was comforted to know that I had an upcoming visit to see my mom planned for a few days later and could get on an earlier flight if I needed to. 

When we got home the girls put on the movie Super 8 to watch while I strung the lights on the tree and ran out for Chinese food. 

As they ate and watched the movie I went through the boxes of decorations. I felt a huge lump in my throat as I came across some of the decorations my mom had given me over the years. The one for Danny and I - Our First Christmas Together, the ones for Baby's first Christmas for both of the boys, Our First Home one shaped like a house... So many lovely memories. But also some pain. 

I went back to finish putting the ribbon on the tree so the girls could start decorating and the movie was wrapping up.  A poignant moment of dialogue in the movie made me pause and listen. The teenage boy (the leading actor) was trying to reason with the scary but sensitive alien monster who was taking out his pain on the earthlings (I know - crazy right?) ...but listen...this is what he said:

"Bad things happen, But you can still live". 

That line pierced through my heart. 

A few minutes later my sister texted me and said, "Just read Psalm 27:13 and thought of you.". It was the verse that God gave to me at my lowest point after my mom's accident twenty years ago. It has become my life-song.  It says,

I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.     (NAS)

God was reminding me once again. That promise was true. I have seen so much of the goodness of God in this land of the living in these past twenty years. 

And that promise is still true today.  We need to make a conscious choice to BELIEVE it. This life brings pain but it also brings joy if we allow it to. 

This is a tough season for many but there is joy to be had and hope to hold on to. 

My mom pulled through her surgery and is doing well and is in good spirits. 

Sorry this is so long but I am on a plane with nothing to do but think and write. ( I have finished flipping through the latest edition of InStyle magazine!)

In a few minutes I'll head to the same hospital she was in 20 years ago only this time with the wisdom of past experience to know that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Whatever you may be going through this season I pray that you hold onto that hope too...

Yes, bad things happen. But you CAN still live!

Love and peace to you and yours...may your day be merry and bright xo

Tracey